Osteospermum plant named &#39;KLEOE10181&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  Osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE10181’ particularly distinguished by a stable, uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla and purple colored flowers is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEOE10181’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE10181’. The new variety originated from a controlled cross conducted in June 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany. The female parent was a proprietary Osteospermum plant named ‘Mutant 1’ (unpatented), and the male parent was a proprietary Osteospermum plant named ‘V 78’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in April 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings over three to four generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in Switzerland on Jun. 29, 2010, European Union on Jul. 9, 2010, Norway on Sep. 15, 2010, and Canada on Feb. 15, 2011. ‘KLEOE10181’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Stable uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla; and

2. Purple colored flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows a whole plant, including blooms, buds, and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in Summer 2010 of a 7-month old plant in the field in Stuttgart, Germany, under conditions which approximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE10181’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the Summer of 2010 on 7-month old plants which were potted at 4 weeks in 12 centimeter containers and then planted outdoors in the ground in May 2010. The plants were pinched once at 6 weeks. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.         -   Common name.—African daisy. -   Plant:     -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial, usually cultivated as             an annual.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Height (from top of soil).—28.0 cm.         -   Width (including inflorescences).—27.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 14             weeks from sticking.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—Approximately 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Freely rooting. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Arranged in a whorl.         -   Shape.—Dentiform.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface:             RHS 137D Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N137A Lower             surface: RHS 137B.         -   Length.—Approximately 5.0 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Texture.—Leathery.         -   Petiole.—Absent. -   Stems:     -   -   Total number of branches at base of plant.—5 (calculated at             the base of the plant).         -   Length.—28.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 141C.         -   Texture.—Rough. -   Inflorescence buds:     -   -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.9 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS             138A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Single.         -   Blooming habit.—Spring to Fall.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 30.         -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 14             days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 3.0 cm. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 120.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS N88D and RHS 1D Mature: RHS 77D.         -   Length.—13.0 mm to 17.0 mm.         -   Diameter (at apex).—Approximately 3.5 mm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Apex color.—RHS N77C.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 23.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 78B Lower surface: RHS 82A.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.9 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 9.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—RHS 141C. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Observed quantity per plant.—Approximately 2.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS 137C.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Rough. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Location: Located at the base of the disc floret             corolla Stamens: Quantity: Approximately 120 Shape:             Filamentous Color: RHS N155A and RHS N79A Filament length:             Approximately 4.0 mm Filament diameter: 0.2 mm Anther:             Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS N79A Length: 2.0 mm Diameter:             Approximately 0.5 mm Pollen: Color: RHS 17A Amount: Sparse.         -   Gynoecium.—Location: Located at the base of the ray florets;             pistils in disc florets are degenerated and non-functional             Pistils: Number: Approximately 23 Length: 5.0 mm Diameter:             1.5 mm Stigma: Color: RHS N79A Shape: Bipartite Length:             Approximately 1.5 mm Diameter: 0.15 mm Style: Color: RHS 85D             Length: 3.0 mm Diameter: 0.1 mm Shape: Elliptic. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘KLEOE10181’ differs from the female parent, the proprietary Osteospermum plant named ‘Mutant 1’ in that ‘KLEOE10181’ has a stable uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla, while ‘Mutant 1’ has partially enlarged disc floret corolla. Lastly, ‘KLEOE10181’ has purple colored flowers, while ‘Mutant 1’ has pink purple colored flowers.

‘KLEOE10181’ differs from the male parent, the proprietary Osteospermum plant named ‘V 78’ in that ‘KLEOE10181’ has purple colored flowers, while ‘V 78’ has white colored flowers. Lastly, ‘KLEOE10181’ has a stable, uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla, while ‘V 78’ has normal disc florets.

There are no available commercial varieties that are comparable to ‘KLEOE10181’. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE10181’ as shown and described herein. 